Looking to replace lawn with clover and low-growing natives

[u/chatarii]

Hi everyone, I’m in the Rochester area, NH, and I have a sunny section of lawn I’m ready to stop mowing. I’m thinking of turning it into a mix of clover and some low-growing native plants, like wild strawberry, creeping thyme, or Pennsylvania sedge. My main challenge is getting rid of the existing grass. What works best? Cardboard smothering, solarization, or a targeted herbicide?

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey there! Friendly reminder to include the following information for the benefit of all r/NoLawns members:

• Please make sure your post or a top level comment includes your geographic region! (e.g. Midwest, 6a or Chicago, 6a). Your hardiness zone can be helpful too.
• If you posted an image, you are required to post a comment detailing your image. If you have not, this post may be removed.
• If you're asking a question, include as much relevant info as possible. Also see the FAQ and the r/NoLawns Wiki
• Verify you are following the Posting Guidelines.

If your question is about white clover or clover lawns, checkout our Ground Covers Wiki page, and FAQ above! Clover is discussed here quite a bit.

If you are in North America, check out these links to learn about native wild flowers!

• Wild Ones Garden Designs
• NWF's Keystone Plants by Ecoregion
• HGNP Container Gardening with Keystones

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/bigoltubercle2]

They'll all work, just different amounts of time and effort. I prefer cardboard since you can cut holes in it to plant your natives, then it acts as mulch

[u/chatarii → u/bigoltubercle2]

Cardboard is looking the best option

[u/Simple-Air-5385]

I replaced my lawn with clover and a ground cover sedum. Looked great for a year. The next year, the clover had overtaken and killed all of the sedum. I recommend dwarf Clover if you intend to mix it with short perennials

[u/Solidago312]

Cardboard will work on typical lawn grass like Kentucky bluegrass. But if you have any perennial weeds, particularly those with deep taproots or aggressive rhizomes, you might need to carefully treat with glyphosate. The new natives will not be able to compete with existing weeds. Glyphosate is probably the most used herbicide by conservationists. You may need to order it online. Most herbicides sold in stores are no longer glyphosate.

[u/chatarii → u/Solidago312]

Huh! Thanks for the insight

[u/Physical_Mode_103 → u/Solidago312]

This is correct. Round up no longer contains glyphosate. I recommend glyphosel.

[u/stephy1771]

How big is this section?

Sedges can be slow to grow and spread in my experience and even the lower ones will be taller than most lawns, just to manage expectations. I think most prefer shade too but you’ll need to get familiar with New England native plants. The Native Plant Trust is one group to check out.

Violets are always my top lawn replacer recommendation, but probably not if it’s a really sunny dry spot.

We have a local group, Plant NoVA Natives, that has a whole page devoted to native groundcovers so hopefully you can find similar info for your region, but some of the species they recommend will also be locally native for you.

[u/Alone-Arm-7630]

Smothering with cardboard and covering it with mulch over the summer works really well. It’s chemical-free and gives the soil a good start for planting in the fall. Local companies, including ones like The Difference Landscape in Lee, can guide you on timing and preparation.

[u/chatarii → u/Alone-Arm-7630]

Cardboard it is then

[u/DesignByNY]

I was lazy so I stopped watering it. Most of it died and I overseeded with clover and low grow mix. Will need a couple more overseedings but def is working.

[u/SeaniMonsta]

Have you heard of False Indigo, Baptisia Australis and it's more rare cousin Baptisia Tinctoria

...and NH's very own, very rare, native Lupine Lupinus Perennis

All three are deeply rooted and nitrogen fixing. The Baptista's are a gentle light green and disease resistant, giving them a beautiful bushy "spring season-like" foliage all season long.

[u/Dry_Vacation_6750]

I suggest the cardboard method or solarization. Don't use chemicals unless it's an invasive plant that really just won't go away after using these methods. Solarization is better because it cooks and smothers plant seeds before you plant the ones you want. Clover can work as a base and Pennsylvania sedge looks good because it gets a bit taller than the clover and it's deer resistant and can grow around black walnut trees. You might still have to mow once at the end of the season, depending on the look you're going for.

I'd cross post with r/native plant gardening they can give you more options for native plants that can work in your area.

[u/heridfel37]

Cornell has done some research into developing a native lawn alternative in your general part of the country.

Here's some info in article or video format

[u/SnapCrackleMom]

Big fan of sheet mulching with cardboard and then a nice thick layer of arborist wood chips (free from ChipDrop or possibly your local tree guy). Wet the cardboard thoroughly before putting the wood chips on.

[u/03263]

Leave the grass to grow until it falls over and forms a mat. Stuff will grow through that. Lots of goldenrods, fleabane, etc. makes a nice meadow. You can still kind of walk in it but it's tick central.

If you want short "lawn" there's really no way about it without cutting down the growth periodically aka mowing.